Signal-lantern



H. SANGSTER.

Signal Lantern.

No. 6,959. Patented Dec. 18, 1849.

by it, the said light is raised or lowered and TED STATES PATENT FFCE.

HUGH SANGSTER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

i SIGNAL-LANTERN.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HUGH SANGSTER, of Buifalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Lights and Lanterns, of which the following is a full and exact description, reference being bad to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of the lantern open, and about of the size used, showing the reflector colored and white lights. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the two colored lights as hinged together, and connected with the handle. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lantern, closed and showing the two colored lights.

The same letters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the accompanying drawings Fig}. 1 represents the lantern open, (the drawing is about of the size used.) The reflector a, as seen, is placed in main body of the lantern, the casing of the lantern can be made of any kind of metal that will answer the purpose. The reflector is made with funneled concave, or other shaped, and made from one piece of metal or it-can be cast, and turned out smooth upon the inside. The indentation or concavities b, b, b, can be hammered in or otherwise made in the reflector, in such a manner, that the space between the indentation is left flush and smooth.

C, is the neck of the lamp which is in-- serted through a hole made in the bottom of the reflector for that purpose. d, is another hole cut through the top of the reflector directly over the lamp wick, to allow the smoke to escape into the chimney and to cause a draft in the same direction.

6, represents the green light; 7,the red light; 9, the middle or white light.

It, is the handle which is connected with the green light, at the point of bearing and is held up by the spring 2', j, is a corresponding handle connected with the red light, and by it the said light can be raised or lowered as desired.

The two colored and white lights are placed in the door B, of the lantern, said door is made of the same material as the body, and is represented as being open-the sides of said door describe a half circle, the front (which is the width) corresponding.

6,959, dated December 18, 1849.

Said door is divided into thirds, the middle third, is cut out, leaving said third open on the two ends and front of the lantern, in this space is placed the white or clear light, or

glass and the said glass is placed a little, or enough in advance of the circle described by the side of said door, so that said light which is of course stationary may not be in the range of the circle described by the inside colored lights, as seen by the dotted lines p, Fig. l. The colored lights swing from the center of the above described circle, and such light is connected with its handle by the pin, or center on which they turn or move; said lights are placed on the inside of the door as described, and each of said colored lights when at rest, as shown in Fig. 1 occupy of the described half circle at the top, and at the bottom, leaving the remaining in the middle for the white light, and when either of said colored lights, are raised or lowered by the outside handles they will or occupy or fill the middle or white light, thereby presenting a light colored or otherwise as desired.

The glasses are flat, and are cut from plate glass of the color desired (and are therefore easily made). The front glasses are cut oblong, the width being of the circle, above described, the length corresponding with the width of the inside of the said door, the side lights'are cut correspondingly, occupying the of the described 9; circle in the sides, and are therefore in the form of a triangle, the white lights on the side are placed stationary in the sides of the door, the triangle colored side lights are positioned one to each end of the oblong colored front lights as described in Fig. 2 and connected with the handles as shown, by the remaining point. The lights are protected by wires placed in front of the stationary white glass or light.

Its operation is as follows. The light being lit, and the lantern closed as represented in Fig. 3 and when hung or placed in the position desired on a vessel or sailing craft, it is capable of giving the different signals, which are required by sailing craft-s on the lakes, rivers, &c. lVhen sailing before the wind, the signal is a while or clear light, in which case neither of the colored lights are required, but are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the white or middle light only being seen. WVhen sailing on the starboard tack a red light is required, which is immediately given by raising the handle j, Whch is connected with the said light, and it is held up by the spring 2', as before clescribed. WVhen sailing on the larboard tack, a green light is the signal, which is given by lowering the red light, and letting the green light down by its handle, h, and

occupies the space that the red light did previous. When a'signal of distress is re quired, a red and green light is presented which is given at one and the same time, by raising the red light half Way, and inserting the pin 5/. Fig. .3 against Which the handle 7' rests the green light is then lowered, and rests upon the red light, as represented in Fig. 3, in this Way the different signals are given, showing them in front and on both sides of the lantern. The lights can be varied to give any signals which may be I 

